Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 335 White Dragon, Black Magician

Ooh, that would be a really fun custom chess set. In fact, I think I've coveted that very thing some time ago, browsing the web for cool stuff. There's probably a plethora of chess sets out there that have a fantasy theme like that, replacing the classic characters with mythological creatures and figures, and maybe even a couple with a Duel Monsters as the pieces. I tried looking something up a moment ago, just for funsies, but I only saw folks dreaming up what their conception of one might be, along with others saying that it would be too niche of a product to get off the ground. I have to admit that I agree with the second camp, but I do like to imagine it - perhaps Atem as king with his classic monsters making up the black set and Kaiba/Seto as the king with his own classic monsters making up the white set. 

And you know he would be down with that arrangement, given Kaiba's background in chess, and white always going first in the traditional rules. 

Whatever. May as well duel over a gas station burrito for all the "king" title means at this point.

Priest "Seto" muses about how "they" say only a king has the power to summon a god, but declares he ALSO has a god at his disposal. I thought the god dictated divine right, not that divine right dictated over the god, but everything is going all topsy-turvy this late in the game anyway, why not this? Atem looks a little mystified by the claim on a god, so Priest "Seto" draws his attention to the stone slab behind himself and says a white dragon god is sealed inside it. This definitely rings a bell for Atem, whose eyes widen as he regards that white dragon, the god in the slab. 

Moving on, Priest "Seto" says Atem was able to defeat Zorc by combining all his gods into Horakhty, but he's very confident that the white dragon will surpass even THAT power. He offers to show Atem, with a classically creepy little smirk. Atem yells at him that they don't have time to fight one another, as the High Priest of Darkness is still alive. Ooooh, he hasn't figured it out yet? I mean, to be fair, Priest Seto normally acts like a bit of a jerkwad, so it's not really a surprise that he might not be able to tell the difference at a distance. 

I'm not really sure if the above declaration is out loud or not, but regardless, Atem appears to be getting the picture. He regards Priest "Seto"'s eyes, half rolled back behind heavy eyelids, much like someone ELSE we know, and can see in them that Priest "Seto" is just not himself. He considers the concept of Akhenaden's evil consciousness, so MAYBE he's getting at the very least some psychic vibes or something? I have no idea.

Priest "Seto", one track mind that he has, announces that he'll defeat Atem here and now and become the king of the shadows. 

Your wish sucks bro.

The real Priest Seto just kind of hunches over, staring at the void he's been thrust into listlessly, addressing his father helplessly. Akhenaden recounts that he removed the white dragon god from Kisara and put it in the tablet, all so Priest Seto could be king. Priest Seto squeezes his eyes shut and groans, but Akhenaden pays no attention to this; he demands that Priest "Seto", the body he's puppeting anyway, destroy the pharaoh with the white dragon. 

Priest "Seto" declares the start to his so-called duel, but Atem shouts at him to stop, that he's being controlled. Ignoring Atem's observation, Priest "Seto" bids him to behold the way his god's power makes the heavens shake. A column of light forming into a pair of wings erupts from the top of the steaming tablet, and Atem beholds indeed, eyes popping at the formation of that white dragon he knows so well by now.

Hmmmm... Is there a FEMALE version of Frank Sinatra? I feel like my whole "ol' blue eyes" joke just doesn't work anymore.

Priest "Seto" laughs maniacally, arms swung wide. An arm raised to protect against the wind, Atem grunts, thinking that the magic of the white dragon is pretty powerful. He's also convinced he has no choice but to fight, so he summons up Dark Magician in his own giant stone slab behind him. So nice of Priest "Seto" to set that all up for him. When Mahado pops onto the scene, he's immediately floored by what a monster he's facing, sensing the power to rival the gods. He also notices that Atem's ba has nearly run out from his battle with Zorc, so he can't even summon THOSE anymore. Mahado wonders just how much he can fight with what's left in him too. 

Atem advises Mahado not to aim for the dragon, but the stone slab behind it, to which little trick Mahado agrees. Priest "Seto" commands his dragon to attack the pharaoh's servant, calling the blast that issues from its mouth the "Reign of Destruction". I can't complain, it's not a half-bad name. As the blast barrels toward him, Mahado resolves to put all he has into his own ONE attack.

I feel like this is a BAD plan. He must be really tired from narrowly avoiding the end of the world. 

Mahado shouts at the white dragon to begone, his blast on its way straight to the tablet from which it's manifesting. Priest "Seto" lazily observes where he's aiming, but adding that he's a bit too slow through his creepy smirk. Mahado suddenly freezes, looking shocked and agonized, Atem also flabbergasted. The slab behind him explodes from the white dragon's blast, alarmed that the Dark Magician's tablet was destroyed first. Mahado dissolved while muttering about how Priest "Seto" aimed for him, his slab, so much faster, while Atem calls to him in desperation. 

Priest "Seto" chuckles across the way over how Atem has lost his last servant. But Priest "Seto"'s monster and tablet appear whole and undisturbed entirely. I guess Mahado's attack dissolved along with him. Seems cheap, but okay. Atem stands hunched, but still looking determined and glaring at the hissing dragon across from him. 

You guys seen that new meme where the stick figures are leaping off the cliff to ring the bell that owns the libs?

Yeah. Same energy.

Atem talks to Priest Seto, not Priest "Seto", asking if he can hear his voice. The real Priest Seto seems to stir in his weird mind headlock. Atem says that even if he's defeated by Priest "Seto", there's no way he can become a TRUE king as long as he's ruled by darkness. Priest "Seto" asks for clarification, and I have to admit that I too am very interested to know the logic behind this assertion. After all, there have been plenty of kings in the past that were definitely not directed by sunshine and rainbows. Atem yells at Priest "Seto" to take his light, and kill him if necessary sure, but the important part is to take his light. He adds that he wants Priest "Seto" to ask himself what kind of king he is, if he shines with pride in the prison of his soul. Man, it's just really sad that EVERYONE seems to view Priest Seto's heart and soul as a fucking prison, himself included. 

The real Priest Seto's eyes bulge at the call to... something, but Akhenaden is asserts that nothing Atem says can help, and yells at him to just die. Priest "Seto" demands that his white dragon go forth and kill the pharaoh. But the white dragon doesn't do it. The white dragon just stays still. Atem gapes, Priest "Seto" asks why in horrified bewilderment, and Akhenaden from within demands to know why the damn dragon won't attack. Priest "Seto"'s face further contorts with anguish as the next part comes. 

Looks like she doesn't want ANY part of this shit. And I do not blame her. 

As Akhenaden wonders where in the WORLD the dragon went, some new rays of light penetrate into whatever dark cavern of Priest Seto's soul he's got them both holed up in. He looks up and is bewildered by the light shining in, and Priest Seto manages to lift his head enough to give it a look as well. When Akhenaden begins to see the explanation for it, he's in utter disbelief.

Well that's one way to grab a guy's attention.

And another entirely to waste his shitty father. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Yeah, there was definitely supposed to be more here. It has the distinct feel of something that WAS more epic and grand, but was cut off at the knees before it could walk out on stage. Still, it does make SOME sense that the battle is so short, given how little energy Atem has left after fighting Zorc. Since this particular part of the story HAD to be truncated so much, this is probably the best place to put it, given how limiting Atem's exhaustion would have been to his functioning in a long duel anyway. 

I do like how, once again, this ending kind of rhymes with what we've seen from the Blue Eyes White Dragon before - this monster has been known to refuse to work for those with which it's not particularly aligned. Or rather, for MOTIVES it's not particularly aligned. I recall criticizing the first instances of Blue Eyes taking itself out of the fight, when Kaiba had stolen it from Sugoroku first and when the ventriloquist had stolen it from Kaiba later, but I'm reconsidering that criticism. Maybe the card not working has LESS to do with the bond or loyalties it has, but the VALUES that it is enforcing - encouraging righteousness and denying lashing out in hatred, even when the wielder is in pain. It still doesn't explain why the Blue Eyes White Dragon doesn't refuse to participate in the duel SOONER; even here it destroys the Dark Magician pretty readily before it turns on Akhenaden. But it does make for sounder structural integrity of the whole connection between Kaiba/Priest Seto/Kisara/Blue Eyes. 

It's a shame that the only strong will and agency Kisara expresses in the story is only AFTER she's died though. And without precedent, it seems to come out of absolute nowhere. If she had been allowed to act on her own even just a LITTLE before...

Oh well.